Dubai displays strength at air show as rivals tease deals

Middle East airlines are gearing up for increased competition after Dubai carriers went on an order spree at the region's largest air show, watched by potential rivals teasing their own deals. As widebody jet orders worth $67b at list prices tumbled out of the Dubai Airshow, Saudi and Turkish national carriers were finalising blockbuster orders from the sidelines. "You can't get a better geographic location than the Middle East, connecting 80% of the world's population within an 8-hour flight," said Darren Hulst, vice-president of commercial marketing at planemaker Boeing, which beat Airbus on orders. Dubai International airport aims to boost capacity to 120m passengers a year by 2026, up from 100m today. Saudi Arabia plans to increase its international routes from 99 to over 250 and more than triple annual passenger traffic to 330m by 2030 from 109m in 2019. The kingdom is spending heavily to transform its aviation sector, moving ahead with plans for a new national airline and massive airport in Riyadh to boost connectivity. The state-led drive to expand Saudi's aviation sector comes amid simmering economic regional rivalry between the kingdom and the UAE. But while Saudi's state-backed start-up Riyadh Air positioned an exhibition in vivid livery on the main concourse, the country's carriers held back from placing firm orders. Turkish Airlines meanwhile, an established player in the lucrative transit market, previewed an order for over 350 planes on the eve of the show. Airbus said there was agreement in principle but sources said nothing formal had been signed.<br/>